Spreading A Message Of Hope And Healing

When you hear the bright, confident voice of Andrew Holland, itâ€™s hard to imagine the 15-year-old is battling a rare form of cancer with no guarantee how much longer he has left on this earth.

But, Andrew doesnâ€™t let the uncertainties cloud his optimism. In fact, heâ€™s used them as motivation to check off a somewhat long and lofty bucket list.

Since his diagnosis with Ewingâ€™s Sarcoma of the spine in January of 2011, the Radcliff, Ky. teenager has worked diligently and courageously to accomplish personal life goals, including serving as an honorary solider for a day, speaking with Gary Ross, screenplay writer and director of movies such as â€œThe Hunger Gamesâ€ and â€œSeabiscuit,â€ and just one month ago, appearing on â€œThe Ellen Degeneres Show,â€ where he danced on camera with his favorite TV host.

â€œThat was pretty much a whole different mindset,â€ Andrew said excitedly of the moment he met Ellen on Oct. 12 of this year. â€œIt was crazy. I cannot tell you my exact thoughts because I had a million going through my head.â€

Andrew is moving as quickly as possible through his list, especially after a recent test scan did not turn out as heâ€™d hoped. Three of the tumors in his spine were found to have increased in size. Itâ€™s not the first time Andrew has faced difficult news regarding his illness. Around his 15th birthday, Andrew was pronounced cancer-free, but later discovered the cancer had returned in a highly-aggressive form that was rapidly spreading.

Main Line Broadcasting DJs and members of Commonwealth Bank & Trust during last yearâ€™s radiothon.

For any person of any age, the experience is not an easy one. But, throughout the entire journey, Andrewâ€™s kept a courageous attitude, sharing his story via television, the internet and the radio. On Thursday and Friday, Nov. 15 and 16, heâ€™ll visit Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital, which has provided him tremendous support and medical care since his diagnosis, to take part in Main Line Broadcasting and Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospitalâ€™s fourth annual â€œJust for Kidsâ€ Radiothon.

Last year, Andrew participated for the first time in the radiothon, which has raised, to date, more than $750,000 to benefit Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital. â€œIt was really big to think that some of the things I said could make some people donate and get better funds and etcetera for the hospital,â€ he said of his chance to tell his story to the community on the radio.

For the 2012 radiothon, 99.7 (WDJX), B96.5 (WGZB), Magic 101.3 (WMJM), 102.3 The Max (WXMA) and 105.1 FM Talk (WLRS), as well as La Poderosa 105.7 FM/ 670 AM (WTUV), will air live 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday from the Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital lobby. The radiothon is one of the largest in the U.S.

â€œMy favorite part is being in the lobby as the radioâ€™s on because we actually get to see the kids that the radiothon is helping and hear all their stories,â€ said Lynda Lambert, cohost of the Lambert and Lindsey Morning Show on 102.3 The Max.

102.3 The Max.

The fundraiser is in partnership with the Childrenâ€™s Miracle Network and will raise much needed funds for Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital through the Childrenâ€™s Hospital Foundation. â€œOur goal is to get mostly Miracle Makers, which donate $15 per month for a year,â€ said Sarah Jordan, midday host on 99.7 WDJX. However, donations of any amount are encouraged and accepted.

Main Line Broadcastingâ€™s partnership with Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital was born of a past partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Jordan explained.

â€œThe partnership between Main Line Broadcasting and Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital is one of the highlights of what we do,â€ said Lambert and Lindsey Morning Show Cohost George Lindsey. â€œIf youâ€™ve ever had a child treated at Kosair Childrenâ€™s (Hospital), you know the care that they take with each individual child. We approach our role in much the same way. Each of our stations has a unique audience that each year opens their hearts and shares in (the) joy of giving to help these precious little ones. This is what being a live, local community broadcaster is all about â€“ helping, giving and connecting.â€

As a parent of a child treated at Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital, Andrewâ€™s mother, Regina Hensley, is thankful for all the facility has done and is proud to support Kentuckyâ€™s only full-service, free-standing pediatric hospital, which serves more than 107,500 children annually from throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. â€œThey are a part of our life, a part of our family,â€ said Hensley. â€œEven though (Andrew and I) choose quality of life and weâ€™re hardly at the hospital anymore, they still call and check on us. I canâ€™t say enough about them.â€

Neither can Andrew. But, heâ€™ll do his best to convey the importance of the hospital to him and his family during the radiothon,Â and is eager to help the event surpass last yearâ€™s fundraising total. â€œMy experience has been great with Kosair,â€ he said. â€œTheyâ€™ve helped me more than any other hospital probably couldâ€™ve, and theyâ€™re like our second family. … I just hope this yearâ€™s radiothon is going to be as big of a hit as last year, and maybe even better.â€

To learn more about Andrewâ€™s story, visit https://www.facebook.com/HelpGetAndrewHollandOnTheEllenDeGeneresShow.

Become a part of Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospitalâ€™s fourth annual â€œJust for Kidsâ€ Radiothon Nov. 15 and 16 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and support the hospital which has helped children like Andrew cope with cancer. Donations will be accepted via phone by calling 877.335.5437 (English), or 800.245.9121 (Spanish). Individuals and businesses are also invited to stop by the hospital, 231 E. Chestnut St., or visit station websites during the two-day event.Â

Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital relies on support from the community as a regional facility that treats all children regardless of the familyâ€™s ability to pay. The Childrenâ€™s Hospital Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Kosair Childrenâ€™s Hospital and raises millions of dollars each year to support programs, equipment and facilities, research, advocacy and education.Â

About the Author

[gravatar email="aanderson@voice-tribune.com" size="60" alt="Ashley Anderson" class="user-picture"]
Ashley spends half her time writing stories at The Voice-Tribune office and half her time out on the town conducting interviews, while occasionally dressing in wild outfits to fully immerse herself in the experience (aka Princess Leia at Comic Con). Ashley is a huge UofL fan and loves the Yankees and the Boston Celtics (she is fully aware of the irony). She hopes to one day outshine Erin Andrews on ESPN and enjoys running, Bardstown Road/Fourth Street, Breaking Bad and reality TV (sheâ€™s not ashamed to admit that).